Converting helm back into a tiller

[KS Dave]

Awesome thanks for the info! Might be a pain to get off. Did you just unscrew?

Yes, mine wasn't bad. As with most things, I seem to recall some PB Blaster was in order.

The one below deck I'll have to address at my next haul out when the rudder shaft is removed from the tube. I don't trust myself not to drill through both layers (tube + rudder shaft) and I ran out of time at my last haul out.

 

[Loren Beach]

Go to the "Search" box, upper right. Enter Zerk fitting. Be sitting down with a cuppa when you start. The long list of referenced threads will show a lot that are germane to the question (and some only distantly related!)
My offhand guess is that you will find an OEM grease (zerk) fitting in at least two (or three) places on the tube. And some will be arduous to get to. Contorting and cursing may be involved. Replacement is often called for, after so many decades.

Once you pump a full tube of new grease into the tube and rotate the post back n forth a few times, the steering will be much better. Velvety, as some might say. This is regular preventive maintenance that very few first or second/third owners may have thought about.
Until I joined the EY site I was ignorant about this, and a number of other things as well...

irreverent Philosophy 101: buying a larger sailboat is a little bit like getting married. You find that the rewards are amazing, and then find that regular maintenance of the relationship is required, as well.

 

[Gablenl]

Yes, mine wasn't bad. As with most things, I seem to recall some PB Blaster was in order.

The one below deck I'll have to address at my next haul out when the rudder shaft is removed from the tube. I don't trust myself not to drill through both layers (tube + rudder shaft) and I ran out of time at my last haul out.

Similar timing predicament. Thanks for your help.

 

[Gablenl]

Go to the "Search" box, upper right. Enter Zerk fitting. Be sitting down with a cuppa when you start. The long list of referenced threads will show a lot that are germane to the question (and some only distantly related!)
My offhand guess is that you will find an OEM grease (zerk) fitting in at least two (or three) places on the tube. And some will be arduous to get to. Contorting and cursing may be involved. Replacement is often called for, after so many decades.

Once you pump a full tube of new grease into the tube and rotate the post back n forth a few times, the steering will be much better. Velvety, as some might say. This is regular preventive maintenance that very few first or second/third owners may have thought about.
Until I joined the EY site I was ignorant about this, and a number of other things as well...

irreverent Philosophy 101: buying a larger sailboat is a little bit like getting married. You find that the rewards are amazing, and then find that regular maintenance of the relationship is required, as well.

I thought contorting and cursing was step 1-5! I had didn’t think I needed to lube up until getting into this project. Figured no packing gland? Ok no maintenance. Oops! Glad I know about it now!

 

[Gablenl]

Go to the "Search" box, upper right. Enter Zerk fitting. Be sitting down with a cuppa when you start. The long list of referenced threads will show a lot that are germane to the question (and some only distantly related!)
My offhand guess is that you will find an OEM grease (zerk) fitting in at least two (or three) places on the tube. And some will be arduous to get to. Contorting and cursing may be involved. Replacement is often called for, after so many decades.

Once you pump a full tube of new grease into the tube and rotate the post back n forth a few times, the steering will be much better. Velvety, as some might say. This is regular preventive maintenance that very few first or second/third owners may have thought about.
Until I joined the EY site I was ignorant about this, and a number of other things as well...

irreverent Philosophy 101: buying a larger sailboat is a little bit like getting married. You find that the rewards are amazing, and then find that regular maintenance of the relationship is required, as well.

Got a new Zirk installed. Looks like there is a lot of black gunk in the shaft. What type of grease should I use? Thanks!

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Got a new Zirk installed. Looks like there is a lot of black gunk in the shaft. What type of grease should I use? Thanks!

I used Star Brite Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease NLG #2. I figured a boat trailer axle and rudder post would experience similar environments.
Cheers, Jeff

 

[Gablenl]

I used Star Brite Trailer Wheel Bearing Grease NLG #2. I figured a boat trailer axle and rudder post would experience similar environments.
Cheers, Jeff

Thanks for the quick reply! What an amazing community.

 

[frick]

I sail and raced my 1971 with a tiler.
I did have a tiller pilot for cruising and it worked fine except on blowing downwind tacks.

Rick

 

[p.gazibara]

I have a list of what I want on my next boat, and #1 is something in the 30 - 35 foot range.
#2 is Tiller steering.
Which pretty much rules out any Ericson I have look at.

If it isn't too hard to convert them over I may still consider an Ericson.
Although one thing I still hate is that wall or is it a Bulkhead across some boats in that size range.
I like a wide open cockpit.

Cinderella is for sale: 35-2 tiller steered. She’s in NZ though.
I also wouldn’t want a wheel if I can help it. Recently sailed a 52’ junk schooner, tiller steered, was a cool boat.

 

[Randy Rutledge]

I finished the refit and tiller to wheel conversion. Took a while to do the full paint job and conversion to wheel

 

[Gablenl]

I finished the refit and tiller to wheel conversion. Took a while to do the full paint job and conversion to wheel

Wow! What was the material you used for the teak laminate? Where to purchase?

 

[Randy Rutledge]

We used KXKZREN Eva foam from Amazon. We installed it in the sole of the boat last year when we redid the interior and liked the look and feel. It is a good walk surface and makes the seating more comfortable, amazing what 1/4 inch of padding can do.
I made templates and cut the foam with a rotary cutter.

 

[Saverio]

I finished the refit and tiller to wheel conversion. Took a while to do the full paint job and conversion to wheel

I finished the refit and tiller to wheel conversion. Took a while to do the full paint job and conversion to wheel

Hello, what a great job, the wheel looks very good!!! good boy

 

[Seth]

Ericson 27 1975 with retrofitted helm. Would converting the helm to a tiller as it was originally intended affect performance for the better or worse?

Reasons I’d like to install the original tiller:
Easier to single hand, Less space taken up in the cockpit, less components to repair, cheap autopilot, and more appealing on a smaller boat.

Currently the helm works fine, I replaced the chain and cable steering a couple years ago, I need to replace shifter cables as well as throttle, probably some break pads too.

Any advice on converting helm to tiller would be much appreciated

Good idea for lots of reasons. Performance will definitely improve due to getting weight out of the ends (this really hurts these boats), obviously you will be lighter but will pitch less in waves. Simplicity is always good. Good plan!